The crew in Firewalker seems hell-bent on something, but unfortunately, it's difficult to grasp exactly what they're striving for. The primary issue with this release is the vocals, which significantly detract from the overall experience. It's not so much a matter of the vocalist's ability—there’s potential there—but rather a case of poor production choices. The vocals are mixed incredibly low, to the point that they're barely audible. At first, I thought it might be a flaw in the vocalist's performance, but even when a guest feature from Justice (of Trapped Under Ice and Angel Du$t) is brought in, his vocals are almost inaudible as well. This clearly points to a mixing issue, as it’s not just the lead vocalist, but even a guest feature, who suffers from the same problem. 

This release, unfortunately, feels like it was poorly mixed across the board. Some guitar and bass parts don't have the punch they should, leaving them feeling weak in places where they should have been driving the intensity of the music. This lack of clarity and balance causes the songs to sound flat at times, even though the band seems to be putting in the effort. Additionally, many of the tracks fall into a dull, lifeless category—it's not that they’re generic hardcore, but rather that they lack the fire and energy that you’d expect. The performances themselves just don’t have the excitement and freshness that the genre demands. Only a few tracks on the album manage to stand out sonically, offering something a bit more engaging or unique.

However, despite the glaring issues with the mixing and overall production, one element that stands out and carries the album is the drumming. The drums on this release are dynamic and impressive. They maintain a tight, focused energy throughout, and it’s clear that the drummer has a unique sound and approach. Their performance brings a level of intensity that the rest of the band struggles to match at times, and they often serve as the anchor that keeps the album from falling completely flat. While the rest of the album may have its shortcomings, the drumming is definitely a highlight.